Oil-well-cleaning device



June 5, 1928.

R. L. BUCK OIL WELL CLEANING DEVICE .s U /5 5 W 4 1 7 6 j Filed Nov. 22, 1926 Ralf z, bac/ Afgy. i

Patented im 5,-19zs.

-. UNITED, s-TATi-:s'

BAL-rn L. ,Buenos amsrowN, Naw Yoan oIL-wELncLEANINo Dnvrcn.

Application led November, 192. Serial Nof 149,887.

This invention relates to an apparatus 'orA device for use in the treatment of oil and gas wells, and is primarily designed for reviving old Wells so as to increase the flow of l5 oil and gas therefrom. l

In `the' drilling of o il and gas wells, and after the oil sand has been reached, it 1s customary to explode a shot or charge of explosives to create in the oil sand what is l customarily termed a shot pocket, whichstep augments'the flow of oil and gas. As time goes on the'.V iiow of oil or gas from the well will decrease by reason of the gradual for-V mation-0f a/coating or lining of paraiin, and

l theother thickened products of petroleum,"

on the walls of the shot pocketwhich retardsthe flow of. oil from the `oiLsand into such shot pocket. Consequently after this `coating of paraiiin or'other deleterious mat- 20 -ter in the oil or shot pocket ofthe 'well isV removed,'the oilwill again ahave a 4free outlet into the pocket and the volume of ow 'will consequently be increased, if not restored toits normal capacity.

" Variousl a'ttenpts have been madelto restore or increase the flow of oil or gas, such asyby the introduction of heated billets of metal into the well casings and dropping water thereon so as to generate a quantity A so of steam for acting upon the coated walls of the shot pocket. Such method, however,

has proved impractical, principallybecausc the billets quickly cool and lose their steamproducing temperature, thereby necessitating the withdrawal ofthe billets from the well casing for being reheated. Furthermore in the use of heated billets the temperature of the' latter gradually -decreases from its greatest heat to a temperature below' a 40 practical steam-producing degree with the effect that the efficiency of such'method can be calculated on the average orA mean temperature.

' Other schemes have been devised to provide aneicient steam generatin apparatus,

involving the, use of a combusti le materialdisposed in a casing and adapted to be lowered into the oil bearing portion of the wgll for maintaining the temperatureofa steamproducing surface at its maximum eijiciency.l

Such devices howyer, are open to 'thefobujecti'on lthat by reason oftheiroperative looxygen required to support combustion.

cation it has been impracticable to supply to the combustible -material the necessary The aim of thepresent invention is to provide a highly etlicient oil and gas well treating device for generating steam and directing it outwardly into the oil or shotl pocket, wherein the use of billets is eliminated, and wherein the 'generation of steam is -continuous and without interruption so thatthe dissolving or removal of the paraflin or other coating may be fully and completely effected in a single operation; and it has for its objectsto provide 'an electrically heated generating apparatus for the produccharge into the shot pocket of the oil or gas well; to provide an improved construction-by which steam may quickly be generated, more in the nature and operation of a -flash boiler; to provide a steam generating apparatus in which the steam is practically superheated by being caused to travel a definite andwe ll heated path before it is discharged into? tlie shot pocket of the oil lor gas well; and to Vprovide an improved and safety feed for controlling the iow of water ing apparatus. Y

The invention further resi-des' in the salient features of construction and the novel arrangements and combinations of parts vonto the heated surface of the steam generat- -hereinafter set forth, reference being made` to the accompanying drawings wherein;

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of 'an oil or ga's well treating device constructed in accordance with the present invention, portions thereof being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an. enlarged `longitudinal section through the upper portion of the steam generating apparatus or iash boiler.

Referring *more in detail to the accompanying drawings, and with particular reference to theelectric flash boiler or steam generating apparatus, the numeral 1 designates a casing or housingpreferably of cylindrical form 'and having its lower end closed by a plug or closure- 2, threaded there'- into, and it-sup'per end'closed by ae ring orl 1 Adjacentits upper end the casing is provided with a plurality of steam discharg.

ving openings of any desired lnumber which `are shown as inclining downwardly and outvwardly whereby the steam will be dis. charged in downwardly directed jetsagainst the coated walls of the shot pocket. Above the steam discharge openings 5, the internal .diameter of the casing is enlarged, thereby forming an internal lshoulder 6,0m which seats a peripheral fiange 7 of a cylindrical outer shell 8. Withincthe outer shell and preferably concentric therewith is an inner shell 9, which .extends upwardly through the annular closure plug 3, where it is threaded for the application of acap 10, -the latter preferably engagin on said closure plug 3.. vThe inner an outer shells extend' downfcoextensively into the housing to a point in proximity to the lower plug 2, where the said lower, ends of said shells are connected as indicated at 1,1, either by welding, or the two shells might be stamped from a single sheet of metal or formedintegral throughout by any suitable machine method. lThe flange 7 is preferably formed by. turn- -ing out the top edge of the outer shell, it beingobserved that said Hange'suspends the shell structure from the shoulder 6 except shell by the plug 3 Vand the cap 10. Such a Hash surface orf shell construction provides.

r tubular support. 13, preferably of porcelain or other suitable `insulating body, and an electric resistance unit 14, the resistancev unit in the present instance being shown as a coiledy wire wound helically about the tubular support 13,` the latter having its pe .riphery spirally grooved, as indicateda at 15, .so that the resistance element may be inset from the periphery of the tubular support.

This tubular support is substantially coextensive with. the chamber. of the shell con-v struction, and it has its upper end provided.

' with. a peripheral flange 16 to overhang' and o andeii'ect on the coating or lining of the y seat on thefflange 7 vof the outer, shell, a packing- 16 of asbestos or other suitable material being preferably interposed between 'the two Hanges 7 and 16, By reason of the resistance .unit l14 being disposed in the out'-v wardly opening groove 15, the greatest heat will bedirected against the outer shell.8,

" and as .the steam ascends in the annular steam s ace 17, as 'defined byithe outer shell 8 and the encircling casing 1, it will be sushot pocket will be immediate and valmost instantaneous. i y A chanrieled washer 18 surmounts theup` per endlof the'tubular support 13 and is packed relatlvely-thereto by means of the as to what support is accorded the inner' two annuli of asbestos 19.-'and 20. The bot-y tom of the upper closure plug 3'is preferably shaped to Ht the channeledwasherlS so that when the yclosure plug 3 is screwed home it will wedge theannuli 19 and 20 against the housing 1 and the inner shell 9, respectively, and against the upper end of the tubular support 13 to seal the heating unit, and through these annuli exerta clamping pressure on the Hanges 7 and 16, against the shouldei 6, so as to secure them and their connected elements in position.

A water container or supply of any desired or suitable capacity is provided Vfor furnishing water to the electric Hash boiler just described, the container being generally lshown as comprising, al casing 21 closed at its lower end by a threaded plug 22 and at its upper end by a lthreaded plug v23. Water may be suppliedto the container 21, if desired, by means al supply pipe (not ,shown`) threaded into the filling opening'24 provided in the upper` plug 23. For small operations the fillingv opening may be closed Vby a plug 24' after the container has been filled. A feed pipe 25 extends through' the -bottom plug 22 and the cap 10 for establishingcom-munication between the water y .container and the Hash boiler, said feed pipe terminatin inthe upper end of the inner shell and. eing'so formed as to discharge.-

:its ywater onto the inner wall of said inner shell l9, whereby the heated inner shell will immediately begin heating the water and start the' conversion of the same into steam. A vent pipe 26 also extends through the bottom plug 22 and thecap 10, terminating at its upper end in the upper portion offthe water container and at its lower end at a predetermined point in the lower portionof the. Hash boiler. If, for any reason, there should be a f'lo'w of water from thecontainer to the lHash boiler while the electric heater is not in operation, the water will gravitate 'to the bottom of the Hash boiler andthe flow will continue until the level of the water in the bottom of the Hash boiler enters the lower end of the ventpipe 26 an'd rises tov theI- levelof the4 water vin the container 21, there' by automatically stopping the flow of water. Obviously,` should there be any water inthe vlower part of the, Hash boiler when the electric heater `is turned on, the pressure of the steam generated within'- the inner shell will i gradually forcethe water from the inner shell outwardly into the' steam space ,17

where it will be converted into steam 'without in anyfway obstructingthe escape of -V steam from the dlscharge openings 5." The` tightly ]o1ned to the cap, 10 where they .penepipes 25 and 26 are preferably.. welded or trate the same, and to relieve .the pipesl of supporting strain Oin suspending the. Hash boiler from the water container, aplura-lity of rodsv 27 are 'threaded at their respective ends into the annular closure plu 3 and the plug 22. The upper closure 23 o the water container may be provided with an eye' or loop 28 for supporting and adjusting the general assemblywithin a well casing.

In the operation of the oil or `gas well treating device as just described, the same is lowered into the shot pocket of 'the well,

=and the electric `heater turned on. The

ground or circuit'wires (not shown) are extended from the electric heater upwardly to the topof Vthe well and connected to any convenient 'switch whereby the control of lthe heating device ma be readily accomplished from an' accessi le'point. With the iiow' of waterfrom the container to the flash boiler being predetermined, and the water las replenishment to the container being ygovernable by means of a valve (not shown) piped vtothe Afilling opening 24, the water will trickleor flow down the interior of the inner shell whichiS sufliciently heated to generate steam, whereuponl the generated' steam `will find its escape about the lower end 11 of Athe shell lconstruct-ion and up through the steam space 417, where it will be highly heated or superheated, and out through openings 5. Obviously, the conversion vof the.` waterintof'steam will lcreate a pressure withintheinner shell 9 so that the steamwill lie-forced around the lower end of. the shell construction, and being further heated gis-.it Scende in the space 17, will escape through the f opcnin s 5 under sufncient pressure tn 'direct the Jets downwardly and against the coated wall or'lining ofthe pocket. The 'film vof water may be spread over. the innersurface of the inner shell by the provision 'of suitable grooves'or .bailes (not shown). Thewatery film, as it ilows down the 'inner shell will quickly be converted into-steam, Vand any water which should pass to the outer-shell will be forced up over saidhighll'y'fheat'edouter shell where its conversion will' almost instantaneous.1 The 'Supply'l' 0fL steam` will be continuous and steady and, h reason gf the 'locatui off tlle o 'nlngslf a' jacent t e upper en o t e I?? 'j' also because-of` thefact that ith'e rising steam in the 'space 17 is [highly heatedor superheated, the. tempera'-v ture A'iffthe steam emitted 'from -the'- openings lwillbe at a mostecient degree for quick lmelting or'dissolving the vof theshot 55 "ningjorr coating: will 'consume but a' short ket. 'Consequently the removal" ofthe interval of timeandafter one portion of the 'itreating device or apparatus --.1inin g 0;; has. Vremoved the wellv -may be lowered orelevated' so that thej'jets of steam will act 'an vadjacent of the 6r Y lWith Athe user of the'improved device the coating'or lining ofthe shot pocketemay be entirely @1MM 'anni one end-andeopen foppltelend,

withdrawing the device 'thev well, and

consequently the dissolving of suchcoatm.

or lining isconsiderably expedited an facilitated. The construction and assembly.

- of the flash boiler is quite novel and simple; the several parts belng `readily `removable and insertible into the.casing so thatfin the event of any injury to any of thel parts, or their failure to properly function, the device may quickly betaken down and repair made, without tlm loss 'of valuable time and without much expense The form, shape. and

arrangements of the several parts have' between said shells, means for fee g vwater onto the 'inner surface of theV inner shell adjacent its upper end -whereby the .water will flow down the heated inner shell and be converted. into steam, the steam and unf converted water -passin about the lower ends of the shells'to t e outer shell for.

further heating, and means forA dischar `the steam from the surface of `the outer ll in an outward direction. 2. An oil' and gas well cleaning device comprising a tubular casing having steam discharge openings through its periphery adjacent 'one end, the opposite end ofsaidY casing being closed, an annular plug threaded into said lirst end of the casing, an inner shell extending through -the annular plu into the casing, the outer end of said shel. being closed, a water feed i piercing the closed outer end of 'the she logo?" o1- discharging I y water onto said shell, and'x'neans for heating'- said shell within thev casingwhereh the water is convertedinto steam for? rgx `ing through-the. openings of .them-casing. L

3. An oil andgas well-cl'eannjig@devicel'Il"' said-uhu' "ig 'l 'comprising a 'tubular1cas'ing, closed gat' ione end'and open atitsopposite end beingl rovided with'steam dischargeopem, Y

ings a jacent its o `n end, the said open end I of the casing havigits diameter: enlarged to form au' internal' shoulder between; the o S 'casin openings communicate, within the ell for `-heating vthe same for, vconvertwater fed' to the" shellfinto stam,;l`.nd

means for'suppl watert'o so, nings and'said'open-endof tliecasin'g ai 'ell b'y the shoulder end deniilg" with the leasing a space with which the iso open end of said casing being Aof enlarged dlameter to form an internal shoulder, a

. Hash shell having a peripheral flange en-t caslng l havingy openings establishing communication between the steam space and the exterior of the casing, a tubular support having a peripheral Hange' supportedby the shellffiange, an electric resistance unit carried by the support for heating the shell, means for feeding water over lthe shell Surface, and means :for securing the Hanges of said shell and said support on said casing shoulder.

5. An oil and gas well 'cleaning device comprising a cylindrical casing closed at one end and open at its opposite end, the open end of said casing being of enlarged diameter to form an internal shoulder, a

Hash 'shell having a peripheral Hange engaged with the shoulder, said shell extending from the shoulder axially of the casing to define therewith an annular steam space, said casing having openings establishing communication between the steam space and the exterior of the casing, a support having a peripheral Hange seatin on the shell Hange and extending substantial y` coextensive with the shell, the periphery lof said support being grooved, 'an electric heating resistance unit disposed in the groove of said support for heating the shell, and means for clampf ing the shell and support in position.

6. An oil and as well cleaning device comprising a cylin ricalcasing closed at one end and open at its opposite end,rthe ppen end of said casing having an internal shoul der, a Hash shell having a peripheral Hange engaged -with the shoulder, said shell ex- ,tending from the shoulder axially of the casing to-define therewithan annular steam space, said casing having openings establishing communicatlon between the steam space and the-exterior of the casing, a support having an overhanging Hange obtaining sup port from the internal shoulder of the casing, a closure for the open end of the casing exerting a clamping pressure of the flanges of said shell and said support on the shoulder, means for supplying waterlto the shell, said support extending axially within the shell, and an electric heating resistance element carried by the support in proximity to A the shell :for heating the same. i

7. An oil and gas well cleaning device comprisin a tubular casing having an internal shoulder, a Hash surface consisting of inner and'outer shells secured together at v one end, the opposite end of the outer shell having a peripheral Hange for seating on the. casing shouldei, a tubular support telescoping the opposite end of the inner shell and Yfitting in the space between the shellasaid,

ethrough the casing, and means for feeding l water to the inner shell,

said casing being closed.

8. An oil and gas well cleaning device comprising a tubular casing having an internal shoulder, a Hash surface cohsisting of inner and outer shells secured together at the opposite ends of one end, the opposite 'end of the outer shell having a peripheral flange for seating on the -casing shoulder, at-ubular support telescoping the free end of the inner shell and fitting in the spacey between' the shells, said tubular support being provided with a peripheral groove opening against thefouter shell, an electric resistanceiunit seated in the groove of the support for heating both shells and for heating the outer shell to a higher temperature th-an the' inner shell, said shell defining with the casing a stean space from Vwhich discharge openings lead through` the casing to the exterior, said inner shell hav- -ing its free end extending outwardly beyond the adjacent end of the casing,a closure for said adjacent'end of the casing acting to Vhold the shells in position, a cap threaded on the projecting end of the inner shell and seating on said closure, and means for feeding water throughthe cap to the inner shell, theV opposite end` of the casing being closed.

9. An oil and gas' Well cleaning 'device "comprising a tubular casing, a Hash surface therein, a support, an electric resistance unit vcarried by the support lfor heating said surface, said casing having discharge openings, a closure for oneend ofthe casing, a water container surmounting said casing, a waterv pipe leading from the container through the closure to said surface, and a vent pipe leading from a pointadjacent the opposite end of the casing to the upper end of the water container, said opposite end of, the casing being closed.

10. An oil and gas .well cleaning device comprising a tubular casing, a flash surface consisting of inner and outer shells secured 11.A n oil and gas well leaning device l n n u a l y uK t comprisinr n casing having steam discharge Comprlsmg a. casing haviig(tersln openinfs tu steam generating surface Withopenlngs, a steam genera ln?, s

inthe casing and extendingtoward the openthe casing and extendlng toward the openings thereof. and means for heating the suring's thereoi, and mezinslftor lieutligtireslii; 5 ne to n higher temperature adjacent the face with an lncreasllng eingcra urelss casing openings than at a point more remote. surface approaches t tellntbk 12. An oil and gas Well cleaning devlee 4Crmiricnirn or CORRECTION.

Parent No. 1,672,200. Granted June s, 192s,- fr0 RALPH L. BUCK.

It is hereby certified that error appearsin the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page l, line 68, strike out the words "charged into" and insert instead the syllable and words "tion of steam in"; page 2, line 45, after the word "chamber" insert thenumeral "12";

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform t0 the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 31st day of July. A. D. 1928.

i yM. J. Moore, u(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

